Dogs are highly vocal pack animals. they are very expressive and emotional. It's easy to communicate with them. You get so you can practically read each other's minds. Perhaps it's the same with cats but with a different manner of expression. They're intelligent and have emotions. Gus will look at something he wants and then look at me and open his mouth as if to make a sound but nothing I can hear comes out. Like...open the door....fill the bowl. That would be typical requests.
Gus is more or less a refugee. But these kittens are anchor babies in my little kingdom here. There's a cost to that. Veterinary care, food, cat toys. We accommodate lavishly. As they say...from each according to his ability to each according to his need.